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FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2012)

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See also: Formula Two, FIA Formula 2 Championship, and GP2 Series
FIA Formula Two Championship
File:FIA Formula Two Championship logo.jpg
CategorySingle seater
RegionEurope
Inaugural season2009
Folded2012
Drivers30
ConstructorsWilliamsF1,[1]
operated by MotorSport Vision[2][3]
Engine suppliersAudi 1.8-litre 20v Turbo[2][3]
Tyre suppliersYokohama[4]
Last Drivers' championUnited Kingdom Luciano Bacheta
Official websiteFormulaTwo.com

The FIA Formula Two Championship was a one-make class of auto racing for Formula Two open wheeled single seater racing cars. The championship was contested each year from 2009 to 2012. It was a revival of the former European Formula Two Championship that was previously run from 1967 to 1984. Organised by MotorSport Vision, drivers competed over 16 rounds at eight venues, in identical cars built by Williams F1, with 400 bhp engines developed by Mountune Racing and supplied by Audi.

Formula Two was revived due to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's concern that the cost of competing in motor racing at a level to progress directly to Formula One was becoming unreachable for many participants, and the category was re-introduced as a lower-cost alternative for drivers.[2][5][6] The FIA tender to supply and operate the Championship was awarded to the British MotorSportVision Racing company, owned by former Formula One racer Jonathan Palmer.[2][3][7]

Compared to rival series such as GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5, Formula Two cost significantly less per season whilst allowing drivers to prove their skill and develop their racecraft, in identical vehicles designed by a six-man team from WilliamsF1,[2][3] led by Director of Engineering Patrick Head.[8][9] The F2 vehicles were assembled and prepared between races at MotorSport Vision's Bedford Autodrome facility, prior to each championship event.

In December 2012, MotorSport Vision announced that the series would not be run in 2013.[10]

The car

FIA Formula Two Championship car[11]
Overview
Manufacturerchassis: Williams JPH1,
engine: AUDI AG, prepared & built by Mountune Racing
Production2009–2011
DesignerWilliamsF1
Body and chassis
ClassOpen-wheeled single seat race car
Body style1-seat carbon fibre composite monocoque
LayoutLongitudinal mid engine,
rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
EngineAudi 1.8-litre 4cyl 20v Turbo[2][3]
Transmission6-speed Hewland TMT sequential semi automatic transaxle with LSD[12]
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,885 mm (113.6 in)
Kerb weight570 kg (1,257 lb) (dry weight)

Chassis

Named after both Jonathan Palmer and Patrick Head, the Williams JPH1[1] chassis and survival cell is of carbon fibre composite monocoque construction.[11] The car was designed to comply with 2005 FIA F1 Safety Regulations.[11] Head protection conforms to the latest 2009 F1 standards. Amongst many other detailed safety features, roadwheel tethers are incorporated.

The aerodynamics have been evolved to produce a high level of downforce, yet without losing too much front downforce when following other cars, to facilitate overtaking. To achieve this, about 40% of the downforce is produced from the underside, with full length ground effect tunnels,[11] similar to a GP2 car. The aerodynamics have been developed using the Williams F1 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computer simulation which enables many different configurations to be tested without the need to actually build the parts and test in the wind tunnel. The car will have over 2,000 pounds (907 kg) of downforce at 150 miles per hour (241 km/h) – compared with, for example, an F3 car which would generate 1,750 pounds (794 kg).

Powertrain

The internal combustion engine is a new turbocharged petrol engine based on the Audi 1.8-litre 20 valve block and head,[2][3][11][13] as used in Formula Palmer Audi. Whereas the engine in the FPA car primarily uses standard road car components, the Audi F2 engine has been developed as a pure race engine.[11] Prepared and built by Mountune Racing,[13] the crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, valves and camshafts are all-new components designed for high strength and light weight. The dry sump system has been re-designed so the engine sits 35 millimetres (1.4 in) lower than in the FPA car.

The turbocharger is an all new Garrett GT35 unit featuring roller bearings for improved response, with an external wastegate with high speed closed loop pneumatic valve boost control for absolutely precise automatic boost control. The engine management system is a Pi Research Pectel electronic engine control unit (ECU), the MQ12,[11] which has more capability than the unit in FPA.

For its initial 2009 season, continuous maximum engine power was 400 brake horsepower (298 kW; 406 PS) at 8,250 rpm.[11] The F2 car features a "push to pass/defend" overboost, with 450 brake horsepower (336 kW; 456 PS) being available for a maximum duration of 6 seconds, available ten times during each race.[11] From 2010, continuous base power was increased to 425 brake horsepower (317 kW; 431 PS), with an even higher gain from overboost to 480 brake horsepower (358 kW; 487 PS).

The transmission is a new unit designed by Hewland specifically for Formula Two, the TMT.[12] It has six forward speeds, and is operated by steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.[11]

The performance of the F2 car is behind a F1 car, but faster than a F3 car.[7] Its closest rival in terms of lap time is a Formula Renault 3.5.

Race weekend

For each race meeting there was 90 minutes of free practice, one hour of official qualifying, with the race distance being approximately 175 kilometres (109 mi).[5] This increased to 2 x 40 minute races in 2011.

All drivers had their cars prepared and entered centrally by MSV. Drivers worked with a single mechanic throughout the season, and a rotating group of engineers. This means that a driver's finances had no effect on performance and no one could gain an unfair advantage as every car was operated by the same team.

Scoring system

For the 2009 season, the scoring system was 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 for the first eight race finisher. In 2010, Formula Two adopted the same scoring system change as in Formula One, with points awarded to the top ten finishers.[14] Points were awarded the same for both races in the weekend, as follows:

Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Points 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1

Champions

Season Driver Poles Wins FL Podiums Points Clinched Margin
2009 Spain Andy Soucek 2 7 3 11 115 Race 13 of 16 51
2010 United Kingdom Dean Stoneman 6 6 6 11 284 Race 17 of 18 42
2011 Italy Mirko Bortolotti 7 7 7 14 298 Race 14 of 16 109
2012 United Kingdom Luciano Bacheta 3 5 5 10 231.5 Race 16 of 16 21.5

Television

The races were broadcast by the sports broadcaster Motors TV. Every race was screened live at fixed times, with several repeat showings.

F2 also had a one-hour highlights program distributed worldwide, and featured prominently in the global Motorsports Mundial program.

Live streaming of the races was available with free access on the official F2 website.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "(F2) Chassis development continues at Williams F1". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2008-12-02. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "FIA picks Palmer as F2 supplier". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1, Inc. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Palmer's MSV wins F2 contract". ITV-F1.com. ITV Sport. 2008-09-15. Archived from the original on 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  4. ^ "F2 chooses Yokohama tyres for new two-seconds-faster car". FIA Formula Two Championship. MotorSport Vision. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  5. ^ a b "FIA invites tenders for F2". Pitpass.com. Pitpass. 2008-07-13. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  6. ^ "FIA to relaunch F2 in 2009". FIA.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 2008-06-25. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  7. ^ a b "MSV wins FIA Formula Two Championship Tender". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2008-09-29. Archived from the original on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  8. ^ "Jonathan Palmer unveils Formula Two plans". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  9. ^ "Patrick Head relishes the 'engineering challenge' of F2". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  10. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (6 December 2012). "MotorSport Vision cancels Formula 2 championship". Autosport. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Williams JPH1 FIA Formula Two car". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2009-03-02. Archived from the original on 2009-05-19. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  12. ^ a b "F2 gearbox in production". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  13. ^ a b "F2 production engines ready for installation". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  14. ^ "Formula Two adopts new F1 points system (updated)". Flagworld.com. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  15. ^ "Extended global TV coverage for FIA Formula Two in 2011". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
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